15 June 2006 Region 9 and partners empower the Youth during the Youth Month celebrations Region 9 Social Services and Sport and Recreation Departments in partnership with Sinako Youth Development network and a host of other stakeholders will celebrate the Youth Month by hosting various activities aimed at sensitising the Youth to skills development, recognising available job opportunities, creating job opportunities and fighting poverty. Activities have been planned as follows: 17 June 2006: Youth Desk launch 24 June 2006: Sport day Event 28 June 2006: Sport day Event 16 June 2006: Youth Desk launch The Youth Desk will be launched on the Youth Day 16 June 2006. The aim of this youth Desk is to develop projects and programmes to assist the youth and the senior citizens. " The Youth Desk will among other things have school based crime prevention and drug awareness programmes", said the Project Manager: Youth Desk, Sergeant D.E. Malatji. The launch will take place on 16 June 2006 at Rhodes Park, Cnr. Ocean Street and Langerman Drive, Kensington. The programme will start at 10:00. The Youth Desk will operate from the Cleveland Police Station. Sergeant D.E. Malatji can be contacted on his cell. 073-883-4678. 24 June 2006: Sport day Event A Youth Sports Event in celebration of the Youth Month will take place on Saturday 24 June 2006 at the Southern Suburbs Recreation Centre in Rosettenville. This event aims to share and educate youth on available opportunities in order to assist them to participate in creating work and thereby fighting poverty. This year's theme is "Deepening Youth Participation to Fight Poverty and Unemployment through SPORT" " We invite the youth to spend the day at these celebrations and be involved in fruitful networking and team-building", said the Youth Co-ordinator: Region 9: Mr Muzi Shongwe. 28 June 2006: Certification Day In line with the National Youth month of June Region 9 will also commemorate and assigning due consideration to the youth Region 9 by holding certification ceremony on Wednesday 28 June 2006. Region 9 had previously organised the Basic Computer and Life Skills courses for the youth. This was well attended and the participation was high. Region 9 has seen the necessity of information sharing with the youth hence equipping them on recognising available opportunities in order to participate in creating work and fighting poverty. The Pioneers Parks Social Services Skills Centre in La Rochelle was established with the above-thought in mind. Issued on behalf of the Regional Manager: Social Services By Zaabe Magwaza Communications Officer Tel. (011) 681-8142 For further information contact Ms Angie Phetshana Ops. Manager: Social Services Cell. 082-467-9419 Or Mr Muzi Shongwe Youth Co-ordinator Cell. 082-467-9439